Feeding mechanism for paper or cardboard.



C. H. HEYWOOD 6L D, E. TRAVIS. PEEDING MEGEANISM FOR PAPER. 0R (MIRDBOAEI)e APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1909.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 13A 1909.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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C. H. HEYWOOD a D. E. TRAVIS.

FEEDING MEGHANISM FOR PAPER 0R GARDBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1s. 1909.

LSLSS Patented Mar. 16,1915.

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unirsi) srarns rafr- FiQlO CHAR-LES H. HEYWOOI) AND DENISON E. TRAVIS, OF VTAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 UNITED STATES ENVELOIE CO., OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

FEEDING 1MLETGHQAN'ISM FOR PAPER OR. CARDBOARD.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.,

Original' application led March 26, 1908, Serial No. 423,312. Divided and this application iiled May 13,

. 1909. Serial 110.495,724.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, CHARLES H. HEY- WooD and DiiNisoN E. TRAvis, citizens of the United States, residing at Waukegam inthe county of Lake `and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism for Paper or Cardboard, (Case B,) of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof. f v

The object of our present invention is to provide a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper, cardboard, or the like, to machines adapted to perform certain operations thereon, such for example, as folding, cutting, slitting or printing.

For the purpose of illustrating the construction and operation of a feeding mechanism embodying our invent-ion, we have shown and described the same in connection with a printing press for printing envelop blanks, which are supported upon a feeding table in a pilev or stack and individually fed to the cylinders ofv a rotary printing press. By means of the mechanism embodying our invention the topmost blank in the pile or stack is selected and fed forward -to thc cylinders of the press, and during its transit is gage'd and brought into proper position or registration to receive the impression, and these results are accomplished by certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and pointed out in the annexed claims.

Figure-1 is a side elevation of a printing press and mechanism for feeding envelop blanks thereto embodying our present 1nventioin with a portion shown in vertical longitudinal section on a plane indicated by the broken line-1 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 2- is a plan view of the same, certain parts beingbroken away and shown in horizontal section; Fig. 3 is a partial end view as seen from the right With reference to Fig. 1, the type cylinder, a portion of the frame and other parts of the machine being removed and certain parts shown in vertical cross section;` Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 4 4-, Fig.l 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional and diagrammatic'view of the nipper and associated parts, illustrating the operation of the nipper; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the -rocating carriage; and Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing respectively side i and plan views of a modification of the feed;-

ing mechanism adapted to a stack of rectangular sheets.

Similar reference letters and figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

Although for the purpose of illustration our invention is shown and particularly described as embodied in a printing pressfit is also applicable to other machines to which blanks or sheets of paper or cardboard or similar material are to be fed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes the framework of the machine, in which is journaled a driving shaft 2, an impression cylinder 3, av type cylinder 4, and a shaft 5 carrying a feed roll 6. The impression cylinder 3 is rotated by a gear 7 mounted on the driving shaft 2 and engaging a gear 8, the gear 8 imparting rotary motion to the type cylinder 4 through a gear 9, as shown in Fig. 2. The feed roll 6 is driven by a belt connection from a pulley 10 on the driving shaft 2, and runs in contact with an idle feed Vroller '11, located below it in an opening in the bed 12.

Mounted upon the framework of the machine at one end are vertical brackets 13, 18, for supporting that portion ofthe feeding mechanism which is employed to select the blank from a pile or stack and present it to the feed rollers 6 and l1. The blanks to be fed are supported in a pile or stack 14 upon a table 15, to which an upward feeding motion is imparted by a mechanism such as is in common use in envelop or other mail chines, but which is not herein shown or described, as it forms no part of our present invention.

That part of the feeding mechanism supported by the brackets 18, 18, is shown in.-

plan View in Fig. 6 and in vertical sectional not shown, with an air pump by which air is periodically exhausted from the tube The lower end 21 of the tube 20 is adapted to be brought into contact with the upper-v most blank in the stack 14, and when the air is exhausted from the ktube 20, it forms a suction pickup, so that when the tube is raised the uppermost blank is lifted from the stack in the manner common-to suction pickups as they are now employed in envelop and printing machines.

Journaled in the brackets 13 is a rocking shaft 22 to which is clamped an arm 23, provided at its free end with a slot 24 which incloses a roll 25, carried by a block 26 which is clamped to the suction tube 20. In additionto the rocking shafts 16 'and 22 the brackets 13 support a third rocking shaft 27, to which is clamped arms 28, 28, in the free ends of which is journaled a shaft 29 carrying rolls 30, 30,'arranged to contact at proper intervals with idle rolls 31, carried upon stands attached to the framework of the machine upon opposite sides of the back-flaps 32 of the envelo-p blanks, supported upon the feed table 15. Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 29 from the shaft 5 through the gears 33, 34 and 35, Fig. 6. The rocking shaft 16 carries a radial arm 36 which is operatively connected by a link 37 with a radial arm 38, carried upon one end of a rocking shaft 39. The opposite end of the rocking shaft 39 carries a radial arm 40, the free end of which is provided with a cam roll 41 actuated by a suitably shaped cam 42, carried upon the shaft of the impression cylinder 3. The rocking shaft 22 is provided with a radial arm 43, operatively connected by a link 44 and cam roll 45 with a cam 46 carried on the shaft of the impression cylinder 3, Fig. 2. The rocking shaft 27 carries a radial arm 47 connected by a link 48 with a rocking arm 49, carrying a cam roll 50 which is actuated by a cam 51 on the shaft of the impression cylinder 3. Cams 42, 46 and 51 are single acting, and the motion of the rocking shafts 16, 22 and 27 are reversed by means of suitable springs applied thereto, in the present instance, by torsional springs 52, 53 and 54.

By the rocking of the shaft 16 the suction tube 20 is given an angular movement from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that indicated by the broken lines 55, Fig. 1, and a vertically sliding movement is given to the suction tube 20 by means of the rocking shaft 22, which serves to carry the suction tube 2O downward into contact with the uppermost blank as the suction tube is swung to the left in Fig. 1, and an upward movement as the suction tube is swung to the right. As the end of the suction tube is brought into Contact with the envelop blank air is exhausted therefrom, and avacuum maintained until the tube has reached the extent of its angular movement,

as indicated by the broken lines 5,5, when the vacuum is broken to' release the en` velop blank.

The suction exerted by the tube 2O during its compound movement causes the backflap of. the topmost envelop blank to be raised from the stack and carried forward fromthe position of the blanks, shown by a solid line in Fig. 6, to the `position indicated by the broken line 56, Fig. 6. When the upward and forward movement of the envelop blank has been effected, the shaft 27 is rocked to depress the rotating rolls 30, 30, against the end naps of the envelop blank, which has been drawn by the angular movement of the suction tube 20 between the rolls 30 and the idle rolls 31. AThe rotation of the rolls 30 project the envelop blank forward between the feed rolls 6 and 11, which continue the movement of the blank over the bed 12 of the machine.

The bed l2 has a central opening and is spanned with parallel longitudinal strips 57, which support the envelop blank in its forward movement. Beneath the central opening of the bed 12 is a reciprocating carriage 58, which is supported and guided by a horizontal rod 59, arranged lengthwise of the machine and transversely to the axes of the cylinders 3 and 4. The reciprocating carriage 58 is held from turning upony the rod 59 by a lateral arm 60, provided with a roller 61 which is confined between horizontal guide ways 62. Journaled in upwardly projecting ears on the carriage 58y is a transverse rock shaft 63 provided with arms 64, to which are adjustably attached gage stops 65. The transverse rock shaft 63 carries an arm 66, which is provided with a roller 67 running on a ,cam shaped guide way 68, having an upward incline 69 lat the end nearest the impression cylinder 3. A spring 70 holds the roller 67 against the guide way 68 and the adjustable gage stops 65 normally project above the longitudinal blank'supporting strips 57. Journaled in downwardly projecting ears on the reciprocating carriage58 is a transverse rock shaft 71, upon which are mounted a pair of arms 72 called joggers. The rock shaft 71 carries an arm 73 which is provided with a roller 74, held bv a spring 75 against al cam shaped guide way 76, having a downward incline 77 at the end farthestfrom the im pression-cylinder 3.

A reciprocating movement is imparted to the carriage 58 by a cam 78 attached to the shaft of the type cylinder 4, and engaging with a roller 79 on one arm of a bell crank lever 80. The other arm of thebell crank lever 80 is provided with an adjustable roller 81, engaging one arm of a two armed lever 82 on a transverse rock shaft 83. The transverse rock shaft 83 is provided with an upwardly extended arm 84 connected at its tudinal strips. 57, to permit the envelopf blank, as it is projected forward by the feed rollers 6 and 11, to pass over the joggers into position behind the gage stops 65, which are then in the position indicated: bythe broken lines 89 Fig. 1. i

As the .carriage movesl forward the roller 74 passes up the incline 77, thereby rocking the shaft 71 and swinging-v thejoggers forward against, the edge of the envelop blank to push it forward into contact with the gage stops 65, said stops and joggers having been adjusted so that the normal space between them is. substantially equal to the width of the envelop blank at its points of contact with the gage stops and joggers. The continued movement of the carriage 58 slides the envelopblank along the longitudinal supporting strips 57, to hold it'in proper registration between the joggers 72 and the gage stops 65. As the carriage 58 reaches the vend of its movement nearest the impression cylinder 3, thev rollerv 67 rides upon the inclined vsurface 69 of the guide way 68, thereby rocking the shaft 63 and depressing the gage stops below the supportingy surface of the strips 57, bringing the gage stops into the position indicated by the broken lines 90, Fig. l, in order to permit the continued feeding motion ,of thev envelop blank over the gage stops.

The continued" feeding motion of the envelop'blank is accomplished by a gripping mechanism carried by the impression cylinder 3, vand c'omprisinga gripping face 91 formed at or adjacent to one of the longitudinal'edges of the tympan face of the cylinder, and a pivoted nipper 92 coacting with the gripping face 91 to seize the advancing edge of the envelop blank. A rocke, ing shaft 93 is journaled in the cylinder 3 A parallel with its axis and projecting therefrom through one of the cylinder heads. rlhe rocking shaft 93 is provided near its inner end with a radial arm 94, and at its outer end it carries' a two armed yright angled lever 95, having one of its arms parallel with the radial arm 94 carried by the inner end of the rocking shaft 93.A

ln the radial arm 94 and the parallel arm of the lever 95 is journaled a shaft 9G paral-` lel with the rocking shaft 93. The shaft 98 is provided at its outer end with an arm 97,

two armed lever 95: is provided with a roller 100, which is yiel'dingly held by`a spring 101;, connecting said lever with the adjacent cylinder head, against the peripheral face of a stationary cam 102, fixed upon a sleeve which forms the joprnal box of the cylinder 3, as shown in Fig. 2. Similarly, the arm 97 is provided with a roller 103, which is yieldingl-y held by a spring 104 against a stationary cam 105, mountedon said sleeve forming the journal box of the cylinder 3.

The driving connections of the carriage 58 are adjusted to advance the envelop blank at a speed corresponding with the peripheral' speed of the impression cylinder 3.

The gage stops 65 and joggers 72 move for. ward with the envelop blank when it is gripped by the nipper 92,- and during the depression of the gage stops into the position shown by the broken lines 90, Fig. 1, the joggers are moved forward into the` position indicated by the broken lines 106, Fig. 1. The movements of the carriage 58 and the impression cylinder 3 are so timed, that the forward edge of an envelop blank advancing with the carriage passes under the gripping face 91 of the impression cylinder 3 and over the nipper 92, as shown in Fig. 5.

The roller in passing from the smaller to the larger part of the cam 102 swings the arm 94 backward, vand carries the nipper underneath the advancing envelop blank opposite the gripping face 91. The roller 103 in passing from the smaller to the larger part of the cam 105 swings the nipper inward and grips the envelop blank against the face 91 and as the gage stops 65 have at this point been depressed into the position indicated by broken lines 90, Fig. 1, the blank is released from the carriage as the latter approaches the limit of its advance movement. When the carriage is reversed the gage stops 65 assume the position indieatedby the broken lines 89, and the joggers 72 assume the position indicated by the i broken lines 87, allowing the next succeeding blank to be received from the feed rollers 6 and 11. P

rille complete feeding motion of the envelop blank comprises four distinct stages; first, the vselection and presentation of the blank'to the feed rollers 6 and 11; second, the projection of the blank forward over the reciprocating carriage by the feed rollers e and 11; third, the advance movement of the rio blank by the reciprocating carriage 58; and fourth, the seizure and final movement of the blank by means of the rotating gripping mechanism. The mechanism employed in these four stages of feeding movement are complete and vindependent in their functions, although they are correlated by their connection with the single driving shaft 2 and successively act upon the envelop blank. The mechanism employed for the first stage raises the envelop blank from the stack and moves it forward to the feed rollers; the mechanism of the second stage projects the envelop blank over the reciprocating carriage; the mechanism of the third stage con'- tinues the forward movement of the envelop blank, and during its period of movement, brings it into registration with the gage stops and in position for subsequent operation upon the envelop blank.

Various changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made to adapt the mechanism to different machines for various purposes, without departing from the principle and intended scope of our invention.

In Figs. 7 and 8 we have shown a slight modification in the arrangement of the mechanism for the first stage of the feeding movement, bywhich it is adapted for feeding square sheets. ln the modified form shown in diagrammatic view in Figs. 7 and 8 for the idle rolls 81, which are arranged on opposite sides of the stack 14, as shown in Fig. 6, a continuous roll 107V which is placed in front of the stack 108 of square sheets is substituted. Swinging feed rolls 109 are carried upon separate shafts 110, 111, driven with uniform rotation from opposite sides of the machine, thereby forming a gap between the rolls 109 for the swinging movement' of the suction tube 20. The suction tube 20, as used in machines of this class, is termed a pickup or a suction pickup, as its principal function is to engage by suction the uppermost blank in the stack and to lift it from the stack in position to be moved forward by the feeding mechanism. This suction pickup is provided at its lower end with a mouth adapted to forman air tight joint when it is pressed into close contact with the blank. Air is exhausted from the pickup intermittently by the action of an air pump having a flexible connection with the pickup, and when the vacuum is broken the blank becomes released from the end of the pickup. We have not shown in detail the construction of the pickup or its connected air pump, as these features arc in common use and their construction and operation will be understood by those conversant with this class of machines. The vacuum is broken in the pickup after it has reached the limit of its forward angular movement, and after the rolls 30, 30, have been depressed to coperate with the idle rolls 31, inA order to continue the forward movement of the envelop blank between the feed rolls 6 and 11. During the continued forward movement of the envelop blank, it is guided between the feed rolls 6 and 11 by the inclined surfaces 112, formed on the ends of the longitudinal supporting strips 57.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 423,312, filed March 26, 1908.

l/Ve claim:

1. In a feeding mechanism ofthe kind specified, the combination with means for supporting the sheet to be' fed, of means movable into positive engagement with the rear edge of said sheet to push the sheet forward on said supporting means, gage stops adapted to register the-sheet as its front edge is advanced against them by said pushing means, and means for advancing said gage stops synchronously with the advance of the sheet during the period of registration.

2. In a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination with a stationary bed for supporting the sheet during its feeding movement, of gage stops for registering the sheet, means adapted by engagement with the rear edge of the sheet to push itforward against said gage stops, and means for simultaneously moving the gage stops and the pushing means in the same direction and at the samespeed after the front edge of the 'sheet is brought into register against said stops.

8. ln a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of reciprocating mechanism for moving the sheet forward, comprising gage stops for registering the sheet and joggers for pushing the sheet againstv said gage stops, and means operative during the advance of said reciprocating mechanism for moving said joggers toward said gage stops. i

et. In a-feeding mechanism of the kind specified, theA combination with a reciprocating carriage, of gage stops for registering the sheet, and means for pushing the sheet edgewise, said stopsy and said pushing means being carried by said carriage, and means for decreasing the distance between said stops and said pushing means/during the movement of said carriage.

5. In a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of Ia reciprocating carriage, means mounted on said carriage for engaging the advancing and rear edges of the sheet to register its position, and means for operating said registering means during the advance movement of said carriage.

6. lin ,a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a reciprocating carriage, gage stops mounted on said carriage for limiting the forward movement of the sheet, pushing means mounted on said carriage for engaging the rear edge of the sheet, and means for advancing said pushing means faster than the forward movement of said carriage.

7. in a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination. with a bed for supporting a sheet lying loosely thereon during its feeding movement, of means projecting above the supporting surface of Ythe bedadapted to contact with the forward and rear edges of the sheet normally spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the sheet to be fed, means for decreasing the space between said contacting means to the length of the sheet, and means for the simultaneous forward movement of said contacting means.

8,. Ina feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a reciprocating carriag gage stops and joggers mounted on said carriage, means for depressing said joggers at the end of the backward movement of the carriage, 'and means for depressing said gage stops at the end of the forward movement of the carriage.

9. in a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination with a bed for support-ing the sheet during@- its forward movement, a' reciprocating carriage, means movabiy mounted on said carriage for pushing the sheet to be fed, means for depressing said pushing means below said bed when said carriage is at one end of its reciprocating movement, means for advancing the sheet upon the bed over said depressed pushing means, gage stops for registering the sheet as it is being pushed forward,'means for raising said pushing means above` the bed into engagement with the rear edge of the sheet as the carriage is moved forward.

lO. In a feeding mechanism Aof the kind specified, the combination with a reciprocating'carriage adapted to move the sheet to be fed edgewise, of stops supported by said carriage and adjustable thereon for limiting the advance movement of the sheet, and means for pushing the sheet against said stops during the forward movement of Said carriage.

11. In a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination with a supporting surface for the sheet to be fed and a reciprocating carriage beneath said supporting surface, of means on said carriage for pushing the sheet edgewise, means on said carriage for stopping the advance movement of the sheet, and means operative during the movement of said carriage for varying the distance between said pushing and said stopping means.

l2. In a feeding mechanism of the kind described, the combination with a supporting surface for the sheet to be fed, a reciproeating 'carriage beneath .said supporting surface, means for advancing said sheet upon said supporting surface with the carriage, gage stops carried by said carriage for limiting the advance movement of the sheet, and means for depressing said gage stops below the sheet supporting surface at one end of the movement of the carriage to 'allow the continued forward movement of the sheet.

13. In afeeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination with a support for the sheet to be fed, of means for pushing the sheet over said support, means for the automatic registra-tion of the sheet while it is being pushed forward on said support, comprising gage stops movable in the same direction as said pushing means but at a slower speed during a part of their advance to limit the forward movement of the sheet, means for depressing said stops below said support for the sheet, and means for continuing the forward movement of the sheet comprising a rotating member and a gripping mechanism carried by said rotating member. v

11i. in a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a support for the sheet to be fed, a rotating member having a gripping face, a pivoted nipper carried by said rotating member, a reciprocating carriage provided with means for advancing the sheet over said support and between said gripping face and nipper, mechanism mounted on said carriage and adapted to register the sheet as it is advanced on said support toward said rotating member, and means for withdrawing said registering mechanism from the path of said sheet, as it is advanced lbetween said nipper and the gripping face of said rotating member.

l5. n a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination with a supporting surface for the sheet to be fed, of automatic mechanism for registering the sheet in the direction of and during its advance movement on said supporting surface, mechanism for withdrawing vthe sheet from said supporting surface comprising a rotating member and a gripping mechanism carried thereby, and means for advancing the sheet on said supporting surface and delivering it without interruption of its advance movement to said rotary member at aspeed equal to the speed of said rotating member.

16. In a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of the following instrumentalities, means for supporting the sheet to be fed, means for raising the sheet from its support and advancing it to a pair of rotating feed rolls, a pair of rotating feed rolls, a supporting surface for the sheet as it is delivered by said rolls, means for moving the sheet edgewise over said supporting surface, means for automatically registerin the sheet in the direction of and during its advance movement, and a rotating member provided with a gripping mechanism for withdrawing the sheet from said supporting surface without interruption of its advance movement thereon, all combined and operating in the order named.

17. In feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a rotary member havin'g a gripping seat, a nipper connected with said member and movable circumferentially and radially with relation thereto, means for moving said nipper in and out and backward and forward toward and from said seat, a reciprocating carriage `movable toward and from the path of said nipper and adapted to deliver a blank to said rotary member between the nipper and opposing seat at a speed corresponding with the peripheral speed of said member with- .out arresting the movement of either said member or the blank, and means for actuating said carriage.

18. In feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a rotary member provided with a seat and with a nipper movable toward and from said seat, a reciprocating carriage movable toward and from the path of the nipper, a gage stop and a jogger movably mounted on said carriage, means for moving said jogger to receive a blank on the carriage and to advance and hold it against the gage stop,means for moving said stop into and out of working position to gage and release the blank, and means for operating said nipper to grip the blank as it is delivered thereto and to release the same at the proper times.

19. In feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a rotary member having a gripping seat and a nipper movable toward and from said seat, a reciprocating carriage movable toward and from the path of the nipper, a gagel stop land a jogger pivotally mounted on the carriage and movable into and out of position to gage a blank thereon and to receive and deliver the blank, inclines or cam ways arranged to shift said stop and jogger at the proper times into and out of operative positions in the path of the blank, and means for operating said nipper to grip a blank as it is delivered thereto by the carriage andL to release the same at the proper times.

20. In feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a rotary member having a nipper adapted to grip a blank thereto, a reciprocating carriage movable toward and from the path of the nipper and provided with a gage stop, means fox` feeding blanks to the carriage, a jogger mounted on the carriage and movable toward and from said stop into and out of the path of the blanks, and means for moving said jogger back out of working position to receive a blank and then forward to carry and hold mensen the blank in place against said stopv as the carriage advances.` K

21. In feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combinationof a cylinder or rotary member provided with a nipper, a

reciprocating carriage movable toward and from the path of thenipper, a gage stop mounted on the carriage and movable into and out of working position in the path of the blank, means for moving said stop out of operative position` when the nipper grasps the blank, means for feeding -blanks to the carriage against said stop, and means 'for operating the nipper to grasp the blanks as they are delivered thereto and to release them at the proper time.

22. In feeding mechanism of specified, the combination of a rotary @member provided with a nipper, a reciprocating kcarriage movable toward and from the path I of the nipper, transverse rocker shafts jourbed for the sheet to be fed, pushing means adapted to contact with the rear edge of the sheet, gages adapted to contact with the forward edge of the sheet, means for moving said gages forward, means for moving said pushing means forward at a speed greater than the speed of said gages during the first part of their movement and at a speed corresponding .with the speed of the gages during the last part of their movement.

24:. In a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a supporting bed, means for feeding a sheet across said bed comprising a pushing member, means for moving said pushing member at a given speed for a predetermined distance, and through `the remainder of its forward movemovement comprising ,gages adapted to engage the forward edge of the sheet, andl means for moving said gages forward during the slower movement of the pushing member at a speed corresponding with the speed of the pushing member.

25. ln a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a stationary bed for supporting the sheet, reciprocating means adapted by engagement with the rear edge of the sheet to push it forward, gages for engaging the front edge of the sheet, means for moving said pushing means for- .ment at a reduced rate of speed, means for y registering the sheet during its forward l mense@ ward 'to bring the advancing edge ofthe.l

sheet into registering Contact with said gages, means foreffecting the continued forward movement of the pushing means, and means for edecting the synchronous forward movement of the gages during the continued forward movement of saidpushing means.

26. In a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination of a supporting bed for the sheet, reciprocating means engagingthe rear edge ofthe sheet ,for pushing itv forward, gages for engaging the advancing edge of the sheet, means for moving said pushing means to bring the advancing edge of the sheet into contact with said gages, means for effecting the continued forward movement 'of the pushing means, means for effecting the synchronous forward movement' of the gages during the continued forward movement of said pushthe last part of its forward movement, gages gli? adapted to Contact with the forward edge of the sheet, means for moving said gages forward at the slowest speed of the pushing means, and means for depressingsaid gages below the supporting surface of the bed at the end of their forward movement.

28. In a feeding mechanism of the kind specified, the combination with a supporting bed for the sheet, of a pushing member adapted to engage the rear edge of the sheet, means for reciprocating said pushing member, and means brought into operation by the reciprocation of said pushing member, for moving said member above and below said supporting bed, and for accelerating its initial forward movement.

29. In' a feeding mechanismof the kindv specified, the combination of a supporting bed for the sheet, a pair of rocking members adapted to contact with the forward and rear edges of the sheet,- means for imparting a simultaneous reciprocating movement to said rocking members, and means for imparting a rocking movement to saidrocking 'members alternately at opposite ends of their reciprocating movement.

In witness whereof we hereto affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. HEYWOOD. DENSON E. TRANS. Witnesses:

W. C. UPToN, B. M. HUET. 

